Chapter Fifty-One
Brodie’s heart was racing as he and Ross sprinted as fast as they could down to the rescue boat station at the jetty.
He could see one of the other crew members, Moira from the giftshop, running ahead of them in the pouring rain.
The wind had really picked up and he looked at the wind-driven waves of the loch.
It was hard to believe that earlier the water had been as still as glass and the sky a bright azure with a few wisps of white cloud.
‘It’s a boat on the far side of the loch that’s started to go down, not sure how many people are on board,’ said Dougal, the helm, his voice tense as he ushered them into the shed. ‘Go and get kitted up. As you can see, it’s not pleasant out there. Come on, guys, let’s go.’
Brodie, Ross and Moira exchanged looks as they quickly tugged on their gear, knowing and hoping that adrenaline would get them through the next few hours.
There was no need for Dougal to say that time was of the essence.
They all knew too well that every second counted.
This is when their training, stamina and bravery all kicked in.
Even a lost second could make the difference between bringing someone home safely and alive, or not at all.
Other members of the shore crew arrived and helped them launch the boat into the loch.
It plunged through the water, stinging spray whipping their faces, each bounce almost lifting them off their seats.
Brodie leaned forward, scanning the water for any signs of anything.
People, a boat, debris. Anything at all.
Then Moira pointed to where they could now see a capsized boat.
Brodie narrowed his eyes and could see some frantic splashing, a sign of someone struggling to stay afloat. ‘Over there,’ he yelled.
As the boat lurched forward through the swell and towards the scene, they could just about make out someone in the water.
Ross grabbed the throw bag — twenty-five metres of rope in a cloth sack — and, keeping hold of the loose end, tossed it towards the bobbing head, urging them to grab onto the rope.
Brodie watched as the person grasped desperately at it.
‘Hold on!’ he yelled as, seeing they had a grip, they were pulled towards the lifeboat.
He willed them to hold on for a few more moments.
He knew how much trying to stay afloat could drain people of all their energy both physical and mental.
After what seemed like forever, he and Ross managed to pull the person aboard, coughing and spluttering.
As they hauled them to safety, Brodie saw it was a teenage boy who was shivering and looked utterly terrified.
‘You’re safe. We’ve got you,’ he reassured him. ‘How many of you are there? Is there anyone else?’ But the boy stared at the water, traumatised, unable to speak.
There was more frantic splashing and shouts as Moira spotted someone else. Dougal manoeuvred the boat carefully into position and the crew worked to get them aboard the boat. The minutes felt like hours as they pulled a drenched woman to safety.
‘Is there anyone else?’ Moira asked the woman as she wrapped a survivor’s blanket around her.
‘My husband,’ she croaked. ‘Did you get my husband? He’s in the water.’
‘There’s someone else still in the water,’ shouted Brodie, scanning the water, desperately looking for any signs of life. ‘What’s his name? What’s your husband’s name?’ he asked, urging her to tell him.
‘Richard.’
It was hard to hear above the roar of thunder that was now overhead.
Then there was a flash of lightening. He caught the worried look on Moira’s face as he heard the woman sob.
They had to find the man and fast, before it was too late.
Especially as it didn’t appear that any of the group were wearing buoyancy aids.
The woman and boy only had summer clothes on.
The water was slapping against the side of the boat and Brodie had to steady himself as the boat lurched.
‘We need to find him.’ His voice disappeared in the wind.
‘Please,’ wailed the woman. Her face was a mixture of anguish and terror.
Dougal looked at the crew, a look of despair in his eyes that only they could see.
Brodie reminded himself that he had to remain strong for the casualties, not showing any signs of the desperate situation this now was.
Even with their makeshift blankets, the risk of hypothermia setting in was now very real.
The water was freezing. Brodie knew they had to start a methodical search, looking again at the last place he had been seen in the water.
He kneeled down and put his hand on the woman’s shoulder. ‘Where did you last see him?’
She looked at him in fear. ‘By the boat. He was holding onto the boat.’
‘Was he wearing a life jacket?’
She shook her head and Brodie and the other crew members exchanged looks.
This was not looking good at all. Brodie needed to make this right.
Especially when he saw the look of fear in the boy’s face.
For a second, he was reminded of his friend Rory and that day on the loch when they were kids.
Determined, he squinted his eyes again looking for any signs of someone in the water.
‘Richard!’ he shouted. Dougal had steered them nearer to the capsized boat and Ross and Moira were desperately scanning the water.
If the man was unconscious, or worse, then it could be even harder to spot him.
They were looking for any kind of shape in the water that might be the man.
Moira shook her head grimly and Ross’s face was white as they continued to look and call his name.
‘Richard!’ shouted Ross repeatedly as Dougal and Moira conferred by the wheel.
Suddenly Brodie spotted something. ‘Wait!’ He yelled.
‘Over there.’ He pointed across to one of the marker buoys on the loch.
‘Someone is there on the buoy.’ His heart was hammering as he prayed that it wasn’t too late.
As they neared, they saw the man’s eyes were almost shut and he was starting to slip under the water.
‘Come on guys, let’s get him out.’ Dougal steered the boat as close to the buoy as he could, steadying the boat so that Ross and Brodie could reach and drag him in to safety. His body was heavy and limp as they hauled him into the boat, his clothes sodden with water and clinging to him.
Brodie held his breath as he and Ross sat him upright against the side of the boat. ‘You’re okay, Richard. We’ve got you, pal.’
Moira reached for another blanket and wrapped it around the man’s ice-cold shoulders.
‘Is he okay?’ The woman’s voice was frantic as she scrabbled closer, sinking to her knees beside him.
‘Just give them some room,’ said Moira gently.
Brodie tried to keep his voice steady as he felt for a pulse. ‘You’re okay Richard. You’re safe now.’ He couldn’t tell if Richard was okay or not as he couldn’t feel his pulse. He could feel himself start to panic. He froze in fear and looked over at Ross, his eyes wide.
‘Come on, Richard,’ urged Ross, taking over from Brodie and checking his wrist. He nodded at Brodie, indicating he had found it. The man coughed suddenly, bringing up a mouthful of water.
‘That’s it. That’s it, Richard. We’re going to get you home now.’ The man coughed again and slumped forward.
‘Thank God for that,’ said Dougal, his voice grim. ‘Let’s get you all back to shore.’
The journey back felt longer even though the storm had started to ease.
But Brodie didn’t say a word, leaving Ross and Moira to tend to the casualties.
His body was rigid with tension as he glanced over at them, huddled together.
The adrenaline that had fuelled him was now seeping away and he was exhausted.
All he could think about was how close they had come to disaster.
They had made it just in time. If they had been any later, even seconds, the outcome could have been so much different.
The man would have been lost to the loch and his family would have been devastated.
The weight of that and the fragility of life pressed on his heart as they neared the shore.
He shivered as he saw the small crowd that had gathered, waiting their return.